Tag: Donation Pickup

The Ultimate No-Clutter November

Posted on by Jordank

With #Halloween in the rearview and temperatures dropping fast, it’s on to November and the #holidays. ’Tis the season that you’ll see more #stuff than ever, as you give and get gifts, bake up platters of cookies, prepare your home for guests, get the good China out and put up the decorations.

But November can also be a month of measured austerity. The Great American Smokeout happens mid-month every year, and No-Shave November encourages cancer prevention and awareness. But there’s an unofficial cause you can take up in the effort to lead a calmer, more stress-free life: #No-Clutter November.

You can start with décor items that don’t get used, Organize Your Stuff Now says. As you #decorate for the fall and winter #holidays, take a good look at the stuff that doesn’t make the cut. You don’t need to save that stuff for next year — you aren’t using it, so get rid of it now. When you pack the decorations away again in January, they will take a lot less space.

Chances are you’ll be spending more time in the kitchen, too, making cookies, a dish to pass or hosting a full feast yourself. As you prepare, have a box handy and throw any shabby kitchen towels, hot pads and oven mitts in it. Do the same as you go through your drawers and cabinets; there are probably utensils that you haven’t used in years.

It’s also a great time to assess your cold-weather #clothing, much of which you’ll be getting out for the first time in November. “We recommend people #declutter their collection of hats, scarves and gloves,” professional organizer Diane Quintana told Homes & Gardens. “Look at these items critically. If they are in good condition but [you don’t] want to use them anymore, release them so someone else can benefit from them.”

To attack No-Cutter November aggressively, First for Women suggests, eliminate one item on Nov. 1, two on Nov. 2 and so on. You’ll eventually have a pile of 465 items that you don’t want or use, and you can #trash, give away or #donate them to ClothingDonations.org by arranging a #free #donation #pickup. By the end of the month, your home will be #decluttered and #streamlined — and you’ll be ready to meet the holidays head-on.

It’s Time to Take Inventory of Your Stuff

Posted on by Jordank

Businesses of all sizes regularly take #inventory to make sure they have supplies sufficient to function and enough goods to sell. But you, too, can take inventory of your stuff, and chances are that you’ll find you have more than you need.

Whether you own or rent, taking inventory of your stuff has an obvious benefit: If you ever need to replace #possessions following a flood, fire or burglary, you can file an insurance claim that requests the full replacement value.

To get started, categorize what you own and enter the details in a spreadsheet or app such as NestEgg. Take pictures of individual high-value item such as jewelry, artwork or musical instruments; document purchases’ serial numbers and save receipts.

If you find that you have more of an item than you really need, you can start to #declutter. You may find that you only need five pairs of shoes instead of 15, or two saucepans instead of five. You probably have just a few “favorites” in any category that get used.

The things you see as essential, have used in the past year and enjoy having are the things you can feel good about keeping, says the Minimal Mom. Anything that you’re saving for “someday,” your fantasy self or sentimentality is something you can get rid of.

If you really want to streamline, work one room at a time, says Cut Clutter With Scissors. Look at your inventory spreadsheet and photos and “ask yourself which items you would replace in case of a disaster or burglary. If you wouldn’t replace the item, you probably don’t need it.”

If those extra things are worn, torn or shabby, they can go directly into the trash. If they still might be of use to someone else, they can go into a box or bag for #donation. Contact ClothingDonations.org for a free #pickup, and you’ll be rid of them forever.

You can sell the more expensive items you no longer need, of course, and use the money to fund a special treat for yourself. But you’ll have less stuff to take care of on a daily basis, and fewer worries as a result.

Shop the Thrift for Back-to-School Items

Posted on by Jordank

One way to save on back-to-school #clothing and supplies is to shop the #thrift and #secondhand stores supplied by your generous donations to ClothingDonations.org. When readers decide to #declutter and take advantage of a #free #clothing #donation #pickup, they often #donate lightly used but stylish garments that can have second lives outfitting the entire family. Thrifts are also a great place to look for inexpensive craft supplies, knickknacks and books, so if your student has a diorama to build or a costume to create for the school play, check the local thrifts first. #BackToSchool

Streamline the Storage in Your Garage

Posted on by Jordank

Chances are that you are underutilizing your #garage space, making it look more #cluttered than it has to be. If you’ve already #decluttered and #cleaned the garage yet still have #stuff to store, Family Handyman offers multiple ways to get the remaining essentials off the floor and make them easily accessible. Ceiling tracks, flexible shelving, rollout shelves and “throw-and-go” bins can help #organize everything from yardwork implements, automotive supplies and sporting goods to tools, camping gear and holiday decorations. Bonus: Keep putting things in their proper places, and it will be easy to find what you need when you want it.

Declutter the Garage and Have a Sale

Posted on by Jordank

August may give you an extra day to #declutter, the chance to sell some of your extra #stuff and the warm, sunny weather necessary to do both. But before you have a #garage sale, you’ll likely need to clear out the #garage! The first thing to do is take everything out, says Budget Dumpster. Not only will you be able to sweep and wash the floors or repaint the walls, if necessary, you will also be able to make a realistic assessment of your #storage needs and add #shelves, hooks and other #organizational aids. Then, you can sort the things you want to keep — maybe even your car — back into a freshly #decluttered and #organized space.